27/10/2014

In the mid of October 2014, Bulan Kesehatan Gigi Nasional has just been conducted in Jakarta at the Oral and Dental Hospital of Universitas Trisakti's Faculty of Dentistry.

Jakarta, October 27, 2014 - Having successfully held the annual event at Oral and Dental Hospital of Universitas Indonesia's Faculty of Dentistry, Salemba, in the mid of October 2014, Bulan Kesehatan Gigi Nasional has just been conducted in Jakarta at the Oral and Dental Hospital of Universitas Trisakti's Faculty of Dentistry. The activity is expected to be held for a defined period of 3 days, starting from October 27 up to October 29, 2014. There are approximately 650 staff recruited to voluntarily participate in the event by providing free oral and dental health service to over than 300 people requiring it in West Jakarta and its surroundings.

Based on RISKESDAS' report in 2013, there are around 28.9% of Indonesian kids at ages 5-9 suffering from oral and dental health problems. Nevertheless, it is later found out in the recent stastics that there are only 35.1% of them receiving the expected service. On the other hand, among 25.2% of kids from another different group ranging from age 10 to age 14, there are around 28.3% of them receiving oral and dental health service. "Basing the existing and relevant facts, Pepsodent, as a brand known for its continuing commitment to improving quality of Indonesians' oral and dental health, truly recognizes the urge of taking part in the overall service of education and oral and dental health provided for all Indonesians, particularly kids," as stated by drg. Ratu Mirah Afifah GCClinDent., MDSc., Professional Relationship Manager Oral Care, PT Unilever Indonesia.

Moreover, drg. Mirah added to her earlier statement asserting that among 95.7% of kids from ages 10 up to 14 who have brushed their teeth everyday, there are reportedly 1,7% of them brushing their teeth the right way (RISKESDAS, 2013). For that matter, caries can actually be prevented by a quite simple step through brushing teeth twice everyday at recommended times namely in the morning after breakfast and at night before bedtime.


This year, BKGN held at the FKG of Universitas Trisakti aims at focusing on kids, homeless kids and orphans around Jakarta in particular. "We do realize that everyone is entitled to being healthy, thus, making us proud and delighted to see for real that BKGN can be one great opportunity where education and oral and dental service are genuinely dedicated to all who need and so deserve it, particularly homeless children and orphans," Prof. Dr. Drg. Tri Erri Astoeti, M.Kes., Dean of  the Faculty of Dentistry of Universitas Trisakti further expressed her opinion.


Furthermore, Prof Erri also confirmed that BKGN conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry of Universitas Trisakti was set up on the actual purpose referring to the data from RISKESDAS 2013 pointing out Dental Avulsion Index (DMF - T) which hits the bottom of quintile's index of possession as much as 5.1 (RISKESDAS, 2013). "Besides the index of possession, education level can be influential, to some extent, toward the level oral and dental health. This can be proven from RISKESDAS' data revealing that uneducated society's  DMF - T reaches out to 10.6 which clearly is far above the standard DMF - T of college-graduate society at rate 4.1. Therefore, we decided to take on this BKGN momentum to provide education to those needing it. By the end of the event, we expect that our collaboration with Pepsodent through BKGN contributes to the society equally," Prof. Erri completed her explanation.


For its more than 80-year ceaseless commitment to serving Indonesians, Pepsodent, representing Unilever, has been collaborating with a variety of stakeholders such as professional institutions namely PDGI and AFKDOKGI as well as governmental institutions (the National Ministry of Health) to serve the purpose of providing education and oral and dental health service to Indonesians exceeding 9 millions. This consistent effort, hence, consitutes the implementation of Unilever Sustainable Living Plan's (USLP) strategy through which Pepsodent takes part in improving 1 billion of global citizens' health and welfare in 2020.


 "Pepsodent utterly perceives the significance of raising kids' awareness of maintaining dental and oral health since their early ages considering that they are the nation's future generation bringing changes to their surroundings that involves a change of behavior concerning taking care of oral and dental health. In line with that, Pepsodent hopes that kids are able to contribute as the "agent of change". To help kids perform their role optimally, they are best supported with good dental and oral health as it does greatly affect their whole body health," drg. Mirah concluded as she marked the end of her speech.

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